SWNOVELXO Chapter 73.2
Small Friends: Amigurumi
Yuuri stared up at Ali, his gaze serious. His words, delivered with an odd strength, left no room for doubt. Ali’s eyes locked with Yuuri’s, and for a moment, their intensity reflected nothing but sincerity. Magg, who had grown up in the slums, quietly repeated the word “home,” as if it were foreign to him, his head tilted in confusion. The other three thought for a moment, and then, as if coming to an understanding, they nodded in agreement.
And as for Ali, his expression looked like he’d just swallowed something bitter. It was true. This was the clan’s hideout, the place where its members returned. There was no disputing that. But…
“…You’re right, but this can’t be a true home.”
“…Ali-san?”
“Thanks to you, the atmosphere’s improved, and everyone’s motivated. That’s not a bad thing. But listen, Yuuri.”
“Yes.”
“This place is where everyone will eventually leave from.”
“Yes.”
It was an undeniable truth, and Yuuri accepted Ali’s words without resistance. Scarlet Lynx was a clan for training novice treasure hunters. That’s why there were apprentices and trainees here, and once they learned enough, they would move on. That’s what this place was. It wasn’t somewhere people stayed forever.
If the environment became too comfortable, no one would want to leave. This was the underlying message Ali was trying to convey. Yuuri understood, but still, he looked straight at Ali and said:
“Even so, it’s still a place everyone can return to after they leave, right?”
“…What?”
“Just look at Balroy-san. That’s why I think this place is everyone’s home, one of their real homes.”
“Don’t lump that in with those cutesy decorations.”
“It’s cute to have something welcoming, isn’t it?”
“I said we don’t need cute!”
What had started as a serious conversation quickly shifted back to its usual tone. Both Yuuri and Ali knew that “home” was just a pretext. Yuuri wanted to decorate with cute, cozy things to create a soothing atmosphere, while Ali firmly believed such things had no place here. It was an utterly pointless battle.
The apprentices, for their part, were content to just watch. They knew that intervening wouldn’t do any good. For now, each of them picked up one of the amigurumi scattered around the vase. As expected, the craftsmanship was impeccable, each stitch meticulously even—just like everything Yuuri made.
“Yuuri’s ridiculously skilled, huh?”
“But he’s not great with carpentry stuff.”
“Is that so?”
“Yeah, when I asked him to hammer in some nails, they ended up slightly crooked.”
“So even he’s bad at something, huh.”
“Apparently.”
The yarn-made amigurumi were soft to the touch. The apprentices couldn’t help but think that the female members of the clan would probably love these, which might explain why the number of amigurumi had been steadily increasing. Yuuri was the type who, though he’d craft them on his own, would work even faster if he knew others liked them. It was easy to understand.
“…The cat.”
“Huh? What’s up, Magg?”
“The cat, red fur, golden eyes.”
“Oh, yeah. The red cat. It’s rare.”
“…Lelei-san.”
“”“…Oh.”””
The first amigurumi had been a light brown dog. The next one was a red cat. The cat’s eyes were made with bright yellow yarn, almost golden. They realized it. They had figured it out. The reason the red cat had appeared was definitely because Lelei had seen the dog, squealed that it was adorable, and then inspired Yuuri to make the cat next. There was no doubt about it.
…And so, the apprentices cast warm, knowing gazes toward their beloved leader. Without question, the female members of the clan were behind Yuuri, excitedly exclaiming, “It’s so cute!” And when they supported Yuuri, Ali would have no choice but to give in, tired of the hassle. That future was easy for them to picture.
And they were absolutely right. Before long, the amigurumi would continue to multiply, appearing in the living room, the library, and other various places around the hideout.